A storefront sign reads "Come In, We're Open," with a second sign below in Hebrew stating "Zionist Israelis are not welcome here."
A shop window in Milan, Italy, displays a standard “Come In, We’re Open” sign, with a separate sign beneath it written in Hebrew: “Zionist Israelis are not welcome here.”

French Jewish Father and Son Face Antisemitic Harassment at Italian Gas Station

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A disturbing antisemitic attack on a French Jewish man and his 6-year-old son near Milan, Italy, on Sunday has sparked national outrage in Italy and further underscored the dangerous reality facing Jews across Europe.

The assault occurred at a gas station on the outskirts of Milan, where the father and child — both visibly Jewish and wearing kippot — were harassed by a group of pro-Palestinian agitators. The group surrounded the pair while shouting threats like “Go home, killers,” “Bastard, I’m going to kill you,” and “Free Palestine,” in a chilling display of hatred.

The confrontation escalated after the father refused to delete video footage he had taken of the group’s threatening behavior. He responded to the aggressors with a defiant “Am Yisrael Chai,” affirming his Jewish identity in front of his son as the situation turned violent.

Footage of the incident circulated widely online, prompting swift condemnation from Jewish leaders and Italian officials. The attack comes amid an explosion of antisemitic incidents throughout Europe, fueled in part by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre.

Davide Romano — director of the Jewish Brigade Museum in Milan — called for urgent institutional action. “This assault targeting a French family solely because they are Jewish is yet another painful reminder of how antisemitism is gaining ground in our country,” he said. Romano emphasized that Milan must act decisively to protect its international reputation and Jewish residents alike.

Milan City Council member Daniele Nahum voiced concern over the normalization of antisemitic violence. “Has attacking Jewish citizens truly become ‘normal’ in the wake of events in Gaza?” she asked, urging political leaders to confront antisemitism masked as political expression.

Piero Fassino, a member of Italy’s Parliament from the Partito Democratico, acknowledged that antisemitism remained a persistent issue in Italian society and echoed calls for a firm response.

Italian authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from the gas station as part of their investigation, with the aim of identifying and prosecuting those responsible.

The attack is the latest in a wave of antisemitic violence across Europe since October 7th, where Jews have increasingly found themselves targets for verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault — simply for being Jewish.

In a separate and deeply disturbing incident, a store in Milan posted a sign explicitly banning Jews — written in Hebrew, a calculated move aimed at Israeli visitors. Alarming displays like this are becoming increasingly common across Europe, from Portugal to Greece and countless other countries.

These are not isolated outbursts — they reflect a broader and dangerous trend in which antisemitism is being normalized and broadcast with brazen confidence. This escalation demands a swift and unequivocal response from political leaders and civil society — before history repeats itself and before speech turns into bloodshed.

 

As Jewish communities and civil society leaders demand action, these incidents serves as chilling reminders of the real-world consequences of unchecked hate.

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